Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
May 01, 2013 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom
There is a fascinating story of what the mayor of Tirana, an Albanian town, did by colorfully painting some of the town’s buildings. The exercise totally transformed the city, reduced crime, and brought it back to life.
In Guyana, paint may not be the solution, but certainly investing in public spaces such as the many abandoned cinemas and turning these into cultural theatres, can freshen rural life and revive communal life.
The opening of a new, modern and impressive cinema complex in Guyana has not been without its disappointments. Most of the movies normally shown are already available on DVD and would have been seen by members of the public.
Therefore those who were expecting that the latest releases would have been screened were left with some amount of disillusionment. They still go, though, for the experience of the cinema and the opportunity it provides as a public space where people can meet, to spend some time with their children while being entertained.
While the cinema is making something of a comeback in Guyana, news is circulating that one of the existing cinema houses is soon to permanently close its doors. One can only pray that this building does not join the long list of former cinemas that have been converted to business enterprises, and in at least two instances, churches.
Things however look bright when it comes to public entertainment via the medium of the cinema. A modern multiplex cinema is to open its doors soon. This is expected to be a state-of-the-art facility which hopefully will screen the latest releases rather than those movies which are already available in video stores.
This new cinema will be located just outside of Georgetown and will allow for the rebirth of the cinema industry, one that is timely, more so since we now have local movies being produced. But one has to ask what about the areas outside of Georgetown. When will they be able to have their own cinemas airing the latest movies? In fact, when will they be able to have their own cultural centres?
One solution to the problem would be for the government to encourage the rehabilitation of many of the countryside cinemas which over time were abandoned. Most of these structures are being allowed to disintegrate and most will eventually have to be sold and pulled down.
Yet at this very moment there is a need for a revitalization of public spaces in Guyana. These spaces include community grounds, markets, town halls and cinemas.
Cinemas are also important public spaces and many of the now abandoned cinemas in rural areas need to be brought back to life so that they can provide cultural services to these communities. Not only can new movies be once again shown in the renovated structures, but the buildings can also be used for community meetings, plays, concerts and recitals.
Just recently a local movie was aired. In some instances because of the unavailability of suitable venues for the screening, schools were used. If many of the now abandoned cinemas were in good order, they could have been used for this and other cultural shows.
It is important, therefore, that the government launches an exercise to try to reclaim certain buildings and use these as public spaces. The government itself does not have to find the hundreds of millions that will be needed to purchase these neglected structures from their owners. The government just needs to facilitate, with some community and business input, the acquisition of these buildings and their renovation and upkeep.
A few years ago, the government put millions into the rehabilitation of the Theatre Guild in Georgetown which is run by a committee. Many companies also made significant donations. It cannot be said that the structure is being fully utilized, but that is a challenge for all management.
All those old cinemas which were once popular meeting points in Guyana can be restored to life and be used for cultural events. In recent years, it seems that the business community has been keen to buy out every available spot of land along our public highways and to convert these into business establishments. Yet, correspondingly, and especially within the countryside, there is very little public entertainment.
Reviving some of the old cinemas will help fill this void and in the process help to attenuate many of the social ills that are experienced in rural Guyana.
Repair the abandoned cinemas and use them to teach the young people music, dance, poetry and drama. If all along the coast of Guyana, cultural centres can be established and adapted for multi-purpose use, it will help to revive the spirit of rural communities.
This is a worthwhile investment, not just because it will remove many young people out of idleness, but fundamentally because the quality of life in a country depends as much on satisfying the material needs of the people as it does about meeting their social and cultural needs.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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